Clasp for bag-frames.



W. A. HEILMANN.

CLASP FOR BAG FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED mAvzz. 1918.

1 ,278,645 Patented Sept. 10,1918.

INVENTOR WILLIAM A.HEILMANN,

' ATTORNEYS warren srarns rarnnr cr mes. A

WILLIAM A. HEILIVIANN, 0F VAILSBURGH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE R. NEU- MANN HARDWARE 00., A GORPORATIQN OF NEW JERSEY.

CLASP FOR- BAG-FRAMES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HEIL- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vailsbufghfin the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Bag-Frames; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, gen-' erally, to improvements in clasps for bagframes of all kinds; and the invention relates, more particularly, t0 a very simple clasp device for retainingthe hinged members of a bag-frame in closed relation to each other.

The invention has for its principal object to providea very cheap one-piece construction of clasp device, adapted for pivotal association with the outer member of a pair of hinged bag-frame members, so arranged that portions thereof will straddle and embrace the closed members when it is itself closed or turned down over the latter, but which embracing portions will be raised clear of the bag-frame members when it is itself swung or turned upward on its pivotal connection, thus freeing the bag-frame mem bers for opening movement. Said clasp devicealso having a suitable finger-piece, integrally formed therewith, whereby it may be manipulated to move the same to its clasping or unclasping relation to said bagframe members.

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of the present invention in view the same consists, primarily, in the novel construction of one piece clasp device, as well as in the relation and details'of the construction of its various parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept; 10, 1918. Application filed May 22, 1918. Serial No. 235,946.

hinged bag-frame members, in closed relationto each other, the same being provided with a pairof the novel clasp devices, shown in said view in their operative relation to the bag-frame members for retaining the latter in closed relation, to each other.

' Fig. 2 is a perspective view of said hinged bag-frame members in opened relation to each other, the novel clasp devices being shown in their unclasping or released position relative to the bag-frame members. 1

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the closed bag-frame, showing the opposite side of a novel clasp device in unclasping or released position; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the novel clasp device in clasped or retaining position.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view, similar to that shown in 'Fig. 3, but illustrating a slightly modified construction of thenovel clasp device. 7

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates the outer frame-section, and the reference character 2 indicates the inner frame-section of a hinged bag-frame; The said outer frame-section telescopes over or incloses the inner framesection, when the bag-frame is closed. The said frame-sections are hinged together at their opposite ends by a pivoting means 3.

'The novel clasp devices for securing the frame-sections in closed relation to each other are adapted to be connected with the outer frame-section 1.

Each clasp device comprises a main body 4 adapted to extend laterally across the top surface of said outer frame-section 1. Integrally connected with one end of said main body 4i is a downwardly extending side member 5, which normally extends over the outer side portion 1' of said frame-section 1. Integrally connected with the rearward edge of said side member 5, so as to lie in the same plane, is a rearwardly extending per- 'forated tongue or lug 6, adapted to receive a pivoting rivet 7 whereby the main body 4 is pivotally connected, at apoint to the rear of its rearward edge 8, to said side portion 1. Integrally connected with the opposite end of said main body 4 is a down-- wardly extending opposite side member 9, which normally extends over the outer side portion 2' of said' f-rame-section 2, when the latter is closedv into said frame-section 1. Said main body a, and its respective side members 5 and 9, together form an embracing member or'yoke which when turned down over the closed bag-frame sections,

the same upward to open or releasing posi tion.

When it is desired to release the clasp device the finger piece formed by the parts 11 and 12 is engaged and lifted up-wardlyr This swings the main 'body l from anormal horlzontal plane to a vertlcal plane," thereby causing the side members 5 and 9 to also swing upwardly, and particularly causing the s de member 9 to swmg up out of obstructing position relative to the path of opening movement of'sald mner frame section '2; Since the pivotal connection provided by the perforate tongue or lug 6 is rearwardly off-set relative to the rear edge of said main body 4;, it, follows that said main body 4 may be moved until its move- 'ment is arrested by said'rearward edge 8 engaging the top surface of the outer framesection, the amount of off-set of the tongue or lug 6 being sufficient to permlt the main ,body 4 toattain a substantially vertical position. When finally stopped in its fully raised position the main body 4: is so moved that the side members 5' and 9 have been completely removed from embracing engagement or, relation to the, closed framesections; In order, however, to prevent accidental bending or dlstortlon of thes1de- .member 9 by accidental blows or similar causes, which distortionmight result in accidentally bending inward the side member 9 so that it could not be returned to proper and normal embracing relation to the closed frame-sections, I have provided the said side member 9 with a laterally extending or projecting lip 13 at its rearward edge. This lip 13, when the side member 9 has been freed from obstructing relation to said inner frame-section 2 by the upward swinging movement of the main body 4, is, nevertheless, so disposed;- as to extend over the or backed by said, edge 1 so as to provide -a resistance to any accidental inward bending or distortion of said side member 10.

Usually the clasp devices are employed in pairs in connection with the bagframe, and

are vconsequently preferably made .in'right and left form as shown in the drawings, although this is not essential, being at best but a matter of appearance, consequently I do not limit myself to employ such right and left form of constructiononly.

Referring now to F ig. 5 of the drawings, I have there shown a modification of the novel clasp device. The said modification does not alter the main'features of the con struction, which features are indicated by the corresponding reference characters identifying the same in the main views and above description thereof. The finger piece, constituted by the parts 11 and 12, however, is omitted inthis modificatiom'and vthe d'evice is manipulated by grasping the sides thereof, and swinging the same upward, or in any other desired manner. v i I V It will be apparent that the novel clasp devices constructed as above described are exceedingly simple, and can be stamped or blanked out of a singlesheet of metal and, easily bent in proper dies toproperly relate and form the several parts thereof, 'consequently the clasp device, while very effective for the purposes intended, is, however very cheap and economical and of neatappearance. V I v I I claim: V 1

In a deviceof the kind described, a' main body having depending side members, a; rearwardly off set perforate ear connected with one of said side-members to provide a point of pivotal attachment of said body .to a bag-frame, and theopposite of said sidemembers ,having allaterally projecting holding lip at its rearward edge to overla a bag-frame edge when the main body and its said side members are raised to released po sition. a

In testimony, that I claim the .inventlon set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day ofMay, 1918.

WILLIAM A. HEILMAN N. Witnesses:

FREDK. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fGommissioner of Patents,

' WashingtomL-GP; 

